NAFTA freight up 0.4 percent from last year, truck freight down 2 percent

Thursday, February 23, 2017

by THE TRUCKER NEWS SERVICES

WASHINGTON — U.S.-NAFTA December freight totaled $87.1 billion as three out of five major transportation modes carried more freight by value with North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico compared to December 2015, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). The December total represented a 0.4 percent increase from the previous year.

Trucks carried 61.9 percent of U.S.-NAFTA freight and continued to be the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both NAFTA nations, BTS reported. Trucks accounted for $27.4 billion of the $46.8 billion of imports, or 58.6 percent and $26.4 billion of the $40.3 billion of exports, or 65.6 percent.

The value of commodities moving by pipeline increased 30.9 percent, vessel by 2.0 percent, and rail by 0.9 percent. Air decreased by 1.4 percent and truck by 2.0 percent. The large percentage increase in the value of goods moving by pipeline was largely due to a 40 percent increase in the year-over-year price of crude oil, according to BTS.

Rail remained the second largest mode by value, moving 15.2 percent of all NAFTA freight, followed by vessel, 6.5 percent; pipeline, 6.1 percent; and air, 4.2 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 83.1 percent of the total value of NAFTA freight flows.

From December 2015 to December 2016, the value of U.S.-Canada freight flows decreased by 1.2 percent to $44.5 billion. The value of truck freight decreased by 2.1 percent, rail by 5.4 percent, and vessel by 20.8 percent. The value of commodities moved in pipeline increased by 28.7 percent, reflecting the increased value of mineral fuels year over year. Air increased by 1.1 percent.

Trucks carried 56.7 percent of the value of the freight to and from Canada. Rail carried 15.2 percent followed by pipeline, 11.0 percent; air, 5.0 percent; and vessel, 3.6 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 82.9 percent of the value of total U.S.-Canada freight flows.

From December 2015 to December 2016, the value of U.S.-Mexico freight increased by 2.1 percent to $42.6 billion as the value of freight on three out of five major modes increased from a year earlier. The value of commodities moved in pipeline increased by 66.1 percent, vessel by 14.9 percent, and rail by 8.4 percent, BTS reported. Truck decreased by 1.9 percent and air by 5.2 percent.

Trucks carried 67.2 percent of the value of the freight to and from Mexico. Rail carried 15.2 percent of the value of freight to and from Mexico followed by vessel, 9.6 percent; air, 3.4 percent; and pipeline, 0.9 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 83.3 percent of the value of total U.S.-Mexico freight flows.